# entrance

/ˈɛntɹəns/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/entrance
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a door or gate

noun · CEFR A2

a door, gate, or opening where you can go into a place.

For teachers: a physical point of entry, such as a doorway, portal, or gate.

- The main entrance to the museum is currently closed for repairs.
- The architect designed a grand entrance featuring marble columns and a vaulted ceiling to impress visitors as they arrived.

### 2. the act of coming in

noun · CEFR B1

the act of coming into a room or onto a stage.

For teachers: the action of entering a space or appearing before an audience.

- The bride made a beautiful entrance as the music started to play.
- The actor timed his entrance perfectly, stepping onto the stage just as the spotlight shifted to the centre aisle.

### 3. permission to enter

noun · CEFR B2

the right or permission to go into a place or join a group.

For teachers: the right, permission, or power to enter an institution, building, or social circle.

- You need a special pass to gain entrance to the private club.
- Gaining entrance to the elite university required not only high test scores but also a portfolio of community service.

### 4. music

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the moment when a musician or singer starts to play or sing.

For teachers: the specific point in a musical score where a performer or instrument begins to play.

- The flute player missed her entrance because she turned two pages at once.
- The conductor gave a sharp cue to the brass section to ensure a clean entrance during the fortissimo passage.

### 5. to delight or charm

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to fill someone with wonder and delight so they give you all their attention.

For teachers: to fill someone with delight and wonder; to captivate or cast a spell over an audience.

- The children were entranced by the magician's clever tricks.
- The audience sat in silence, completely entranced by the soprano's hauntingly beautiful performance.

Usage: This verb is pronounced with the stress on the second syllable.

Teaching tip: Learners often confuse this with the noun; remind them that the verb 'entrance' rhymes with 'dance' and has a different stress pattern.

## Examples

- The main entrance is around the corner.
- The security guard stands at the staff entrance to check everyone's identification badges as they arrive.
- Her dramatic entrance into the ballroom silenced the guests, drawing every eye to her intricate gown and confident stride.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.